UK retail sales increased in January and reported in EN Magazine – despite the big freeze which gripped parts of the country and left many places blanketed in snow.
According to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), like-for-like retails sales were up 1.9 per cent compared with the same time last year. It was the largest year-on-year rise since 2011.
Helen Dickinson, director general, BRC, said that the results will lift the spirits of many retailers as December was fairly subdued.
“People were tempted out by offers and promotions but also treated themselves to full-price and premium products early in January, particularly must-have technology items.
“These factors, coupled with recovering consumer confidence, have added up to a more successful January than we saw last year.
“Sales suffered during the recent cold snap, but it was thankfully short-lived and didn’t cancel out the positive showing across the month as a whole.”
She explained that footwear is one of the areas that performed well, but it wasn’t such a good month for clothing.
“Online sales growth returned to closer to the longer-run average after a bumper December.
“All in all, these figures give a sense that the mood is lifting a little for customers and retailers. Let’s hope it continues.”
The news will no doubt be welcomed by retailers. In January alone, Jessops, Blockbuster and HMV all called in administrators.
Source: By Kirsty Hewitt, EN – the magazine for Entrepreneurs
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